San Francisco 49ers quarterback Scott Tolzien (3) watches NFL football practice in Santa Calf., Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. Tolzien is having a ball playing Drew Brees in practice this week. Not a bad gig for the little-known practice-squad quarterback, who wasn't even drafted after a stellar career at Wisconsin. He realizes full well that his role is mighty important in San Francisco's preparation for its NFC divisional playoff game against the high-powered Saints on Saturday at Candlestick Park. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Less than a year into his NFL career, 49ers quarterback Scott Tolzien is a master when it comes to absorbing complex information on the fly.

Last summer, a day after receiving the Chargers' playbook following the lockout, Tolzien, an undrafted free agent, initially was one of two quarterbacks in San Diego's training camp. He split practice reps with Philip Rivers while trying to decode, and remember, the verbiage.

"I'm walking into a huddle with 28-year-old guys with two kids, or whatever the case may be," said Tolzien, then a 23-year-old recently graduated from Wisconsin. "So I gained a lot of confidence from basically being thrown in there knowing nothing. It was like learning Spanish, having to repeat plays 20 words long in what I thought was a different language going in."

Tolzien's crash-course education didn't end there. He was among the Chargers' final roster cuts, was signed by the 49ers a week before the season opener and spent so much time playing catch-up with San Francisco's playbook that he took up residence at the team complex, living in the players' lounge for several weeks during the season.

Now, as the 49ers begin their offseason workout program Monday in Santa Clara, Tolzien isn't riddled with questions about the team's West Coast offense. Questions do surround his future in San Francisco: Tolzien begins his second NFL season as the No. 4 quarterback behind Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick and Josh Johnson, whose signing last month pushed Tolzien down the depth chart.

Last year, Tolzien was on the 53-man roster as the third-string quarterback, a prospect who was inactive for every game. The signing of Johnson, 25, who played for head coach Jim Harbaugh at the University of San Diego, raises the distinct possibility that Tolzien will be demoted to the practice squad if he remains with the 49ers.

"The bottom line is that it's the NFL and there's going to be competition wherever you go," Tolzien said of the altered landscape. "That's the way I look at it. I've had competition in high school. I've had competition in college and that's part of the game. That's part of how you improve as a quarterback.

"You're competing against other guys because ultimately there's only one starter and all of us want to be that guy at some point. That's the way I approach it. Control what I can control and just be the best I can be each day."

Lightly recruited out of high school and undrafted by the NFL, Tolzien is used to being an afterthought. A two-time All-Academic Big Ten pick at Wisconsin, he's known as a tireless worker with more impressive intangibles than physical skills.

At Wisconsin, he set school records for career completion percentage (68.1) and quarterback rating (153.2). In 2010, he led the Badgers to a share of their first Big Ten title in 11 years and won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given to the nation's top senior quarterback.

Still, he went undrafted last year because of, in part, questions about his arm strength. In the preseason with the Chargers, he completed 25 of 40 passes for 302 yards with one touchdown and one interception. In the preseason finale against the 49ers, he completed 16 of 23 passes for 223 yards, a performance that enhanced his belief that he belonged.

"Absolutely, I said I can do this," Tolzien said of the preseason. "It was a huge confidence boost."

Still, the Chargers cut him and he didn't clear waivers. It's possible a similar scenario could unfold this season. The 49ers won't keep four quarterbacks on their active roster, and Tolzien, if cut this summer, is unlikely to clear waivers and end up on the practice squad.

Tolzien said he doesn't spend time thinking about the possibility of learning yet another playbook on the fly. He has been told by Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke that he'll have the chance to earn a roster spot.

"Their message is that it's open competition," Tolzien said. "That's really all you can ask for is just an equal shot. ...

"Shoot, with anything in life, I think that's when you start stressing yourself out - when you start worrying about the things that are out of your control. What I can control is being at my best every day and having no regrets at the end of each day. That's what I plan on doing."

Back to work

The 49ers' offseason program begins Monday in Santa Clara. The team has not released an official schedule, but the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement outlines a three-phase, nine-week offseason calendar:

Phase 1: A two-week period limited to "strength and conditioning" and "physical rehabilitation" activities, which can't be observed by coaches.

Phase 2: A three-week period during which coaches are permitted on the field. Activities may include individual instruction and drills. Players may not wear helmets.

Phase 3: A four-week period during which 10 days of "organized team activities" and a mandatory minicamp are allowed. Helmets may be worn but no pads are allowed.